Wachusett superintendent pick says he can work with whole school board

Wednesday

Dec 11, 2013 at 6:00 AMDec 11, 2013 at 1:08 PM

By Sandy Meindersma CORRESPONDENT

HOLDEN — Darryll McCall, who was selected to be the next superintendent of the Wachusett Regional School District, said he was pleased the school committee took so much time making its decision.

"One of the members said it was the most important decision that they would make while on the committee," he said in an interview Tuesday.

Mr. McCall was named the successful candidate after five-and-a-half-hour discussion and debate Monday night that included four preliminary ballots before the final motion to enter into contract negotiations with Mr. McCall. The vote was 16-4, with members Robert McCarthy, Lisa Call, Deidre Kosky and Margaret Watson voting against the motion.

The first ballot resulted in 10 votes for candidate Michael Buoniconti of Ludlow, eight for Mr. McCall and two for Elizabeth Schaper of Jefferson, who is currently superintendent of the West Boylston schools. The second and third ballots were deadlocked at 10 votes for Mr. McCall and 10 for Mr. Buoniconti.

"The discussion was polite and cordial," Mr. McCall said. "And at the end of the meeting I was able to shake the hand of every member of the committee."

Mr. McCall said he is not worried about working with committee members who did not vote for him.

"I have had a good working relationship with all of the members," he said. "And I work with people every day who do not agree with me. I have learned that you are not going to make 100 percent of the people 100 percent happy 100 percent of the time."

Mr. McCall said he was a little concerned after the first vote, wondering which way the two votes would swing.

"Ultimately, people either thought Mr. Buoniconti was the candidate who would come in and do something or they were opposed to him," he said. "But the committee wants to move forward with someone who can work collaboratively."

The school committee will begin negotiations with Mr. McCall; his tenure as superintendent will begin once a satisfactory contract agreement has been reached.